Novelty: What’s New?

1. Novelty: What’s New? Patent Law Prof Merges 9.14.2010

2. Clearing Up Two Issues • Indefiniteness: see group email (it is a question of law, but nevertheless based on complex facts) • Best mode: disclose actual best mode as part of a short “laundry list” is OK; “burying” in a long list, maybe not (Randomex)

3. Three Main Issues Under Novelty • What is the prior art: what is a “reference”? • Timing Issues: What is in, and out, of the “prior art”? • Identity standard: how similar does a prior art reference have to be to anticipate (destroy novelty, invalidate) a patent?

4. Subsidiary Issue • Practical: burden of proof, details of proving prior art dates

5. 35 USC 102 “A person shall be entitled to a patent unless . . . .”

6. Novelty § 102 A person isnotentitled to a patent if the invention was: • in theprior art(as defined by § 102 (a), (e), (g)) • barredunder § 102 (b), (c), (d)

7. Key Distinction • Though both covered by § 102, novelty and statutory bars are very different • Novelty: is it new? • Statutory bars: did you file before the cutoff date? Did you file on time?

8. Novelty (Anticipation) [§ 102(a)] Versus Statutory Bars [§ 102(b)] • Novelty/Anticipation concerned with NEWNESS – is it original to the patent applicant/patentee? • Statutory Bars concerned with TIMELINESS – did the inventor file soon enough?

9. § 102. Novelty and loss of right to patent A person shall be entitled to a patent unless (a) the invention was known or used by others … before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or (b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication …, more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, or . . . .

10. What is the key difference? • The CRITICAL DATE is different for novelty vs. the statutory bars • Novelty: date of invention • Statutory bars: Filing date minus one year

11. CLAIM 1: ELEMENTS Rotating handle at end of bar U-shaped bar Cutting element attached to bar Base, with passageway

12. Sample Publication Cheese Industry Today New Trends in Slicers by J. Smith ________________ New innovations _______________________________ ______________various round, and____ . ______________ _______ Exciting : stainless steel blades, , ___________ ________ ____________________ . The wire slides into a convenient For tightened wire designs, cutting bar shapes: U-shaped, new cutting elements tightened wire passageway in the base. attached to the bar tightening can be achieved by rotating the handle.

13. Cheese Industry Today New Trends in Slicers by J. Smith NO PATENT GRANTED ________________ New innovations _______________________________ ______________various round, and____ . ______________ _______ Exciting : stainless steel blades, , ___________ ________ ____________________ . The wire slides into a convenient For tightened wire designs, NOVELTY REQUIREMENT NOT MET: cutting bar shapes: U-shaped, new cutting elements tightened wire attached to the bar passageway in the base. tightening can be achieved by rotating the handle. Claim Elements Claim Elements in Publication Rotating handle at end of bar Rotating handle at end of bar Cutting element attached to bar Cutting element attached to bar Base, with passageway Base, with passageway U-shaped bar U-shaped bar

14. Sample Publication: Revised Cheese Industry Today New Trends in Slicers by J. Smith ________________ New innovations _______________________________ ______________various round, and____ . ______________ _______ Exciting : stainless steel blades, , ___________ ________ ____________________ . The wire slides into a convenient cutting bar shapes: U-shaped, new cutting elements tightened wire passageway in the base. attached to the bar

15. Invention Compared with Prior Art Rotating handle at end of bar Cutting element attached to bar Base, with passageway U-shaped bar Smith Article X X X Jones Patent X X Adams Slicer X X INVENTIONNOT ANTICIPATED NOVELTY REQT MET: PATENT GRANTED

16. § 102. Novelty and loss of right to patent A person shall be entitled to a patent unless (a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or (b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, or . . . .

17. Important Concept: the “Critical Date” The Invention Date

18. Critical Concept: the “Critical Date” The Invention Date The Prior Art

19. Earlier Invention, Earlier “Critical Date,” LESS PRIOR ART The Invention Date The Prior Art

20. Novelty Critical Date Example Reduction to practice: 7/12/1886 Filed: 6/7/1889 Conception: Summer 1886 Unpacking the “invention date”

21. 4/19/82 4/19/81 Statutory Bar Example 4/8/81 Patent Application Filed The “Critical Date” for the Patent Application One embodiment of invention sold

22. 4/19/82 4/19/81 Statutory Bar 4/8/81 Patent Application The “Critical Date” for the Patent Application “More than one year before” filing

23. In re Robertson • Page 365 • Held: Claim 76 not anticipated

24. United States Patent 5,279,604 Robertson ,   et al.January 18, 1994 Mechanical fastening systems with disposal means for disposable absorbent articles • Abstract • A disposable absorbent article with a mechanical fastening system having an additional fastening element so as to provide convenient disposal of the absorbent article. The mechanical fastening system preferably comprises a tape tab having a first fastening element, a landing member comprising a second fastening element engageable with the first fastening element, and an additional fastening element for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a configuration that provides convenient disposalof the absorbent article. The additional fastening element preferably comprises a second fastening element affixed to the backing surface of at least one of the tape tabs • Inventors: Robertson; Anthony J. (Blue Ash, OH); Scripps; Charles L. (Brookfield, WI) Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company (Cincinnati, OH) Appl. No.: 918156 Filed: July 20, 1992

27. Claim 76 [A] mechanical fastening system for forming side closures . . . comprising [1] a closure member . . . comprising [a] a first mechanical fastening means for forming a closure, said first mechanical fastening means comprising [i] a

28. first fastening element; [2] a landing member . . . comprising [a] a second mechanical fastening means for forming a closure with said first mechanical fastening means, [b] said second mechanical fastening means comprising a second fastening element mechanically engageable with said first element; and

29. [3] disposal means for allowing the absorbent article to be secured in a disposal configuration after use, said disposal means comprising [a] a third mechanical fastening means for securing the absorbent article in the disposal configuration, said third mechanical fastening means comprising [i] a third fastening element mechanically engageable with said first fastening element . . . .

30. In re Robertson Claim 76: A mechanical fastening system for forming side closures comprising [1] a closure member … comprising [a] a first mechanical fastening means, said [means] comprising [i] a first fastening element . . . [2] a landing member, comprising . . . [3] disposal means, comprising . . .

31. [1] a closure member [2] landing member [3] disposal means

32. Prior Art United States Patent 4,895,569 Wilson,   et al. January 23, 1990 Fastening system for a disposable absorbent garment having a tailored seam

33. United States Patent 4,895,569 Wilson: January 23, 1990 Filed: July 20, 1992 The Presumptive Invention Date: Robertson application filed

35. Wilson Patent Issued before the “Critical Date” The Robertson Invention Date The Prior Art

36. Wilson Patent is IN THE PRIOR ART The Robertson Invention Date The Prior Art

37. United States Patent 4,895,569 Wilson ,   et al.* January 23, 1990 Fastening system for a disposable absorbent garment having a tailored seam • Abstract • A disposable absorbent garment (10) of the type having opposed engageable waistband portions (14) separated by an intermediate portion (16), comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover (12) and a superposable absorbent structure (32), • Inventors: Wilson; John C. (Neenah, WI); Rajala; Gregory J. (Neenah, WI); Boland; Leona G. (Neenah, WI); Zehner; Georgia L. (Larsen, WI) Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Neenah, WI) [*] Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to October 20, 2004 has been disclaimed.Appl. No.: 089647 • Filed: August 25, 1987

38. Robertson ‘604 Patent Securing Tab

39. Alternative Embodiment: No separate securing tab

43. [1] a closure member [2] landing member [3] disposal means ??

44. Wilson specification “Disposal of the soiled garment . . . Is easily accomplished by folding the front panel . . . Inwardly and then fastening the rear pair of mating fastening members to one another, thus neatly bundling the garment . . .”

45. P. 364 Anticipation … requires that “each and every element as set forth in the claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference.” Verdegaal Bros., Inc. v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2 U.S.P.Q.2D (BNA) 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987)

46. Inherency – p. 364 “To establish inherency, the extrinsic evidence “must make clear that the missing descriptive matter is necessarily present in the thing described in the reference, and that it would be so recognized by persons of ordinary skill.”

47. Wilson reference • Closure member • Landing member • Disposal means with . . . • 3rd fastening element? • Wilson specification: “fasten rear pair of mating fastening members to one another . . .” p 368

48. Fed Cir “The Board made no attempt to show that the fastening mechanisms of Wilson that were used to attach the diaper to the wearer also “necessarily” disclosed the third separate fastening mechanism of claim 76 used to close the diaper for disposal, or that an artisan of ordinary skill would so recognize. It cited no extrinsic evidence so indicating.”

49. “[T]he Board failed to recognize that the third mechanical fastening means in claim 76, used to secure the diaper for disposal, was separate from and independent of the two other mechanical means used to attach the diaper to the person. .. [T]he Board’s analysis rests upon the very kind of probability or possibility — the odd use of fasteners with other than their mates — that this court has pointed out is insufficient to establish inherency.”

50. Bd of Appeals opinion “[A]n artisan would readily understand the disposable absorbent garment of Wilson . . . as being inherently capable of [making the third fastening element] mechanically engageable with [the first fastening element]” — i.e., using the secondary closure not with its mate, but with one of the primary snap fasteners.”